| Programme | Scientist Training Programme |
| Specialty | Pharmaceutical Science |
| Year of review | 2025 – 2026 |
| Curriculum | Click link to access Pharmaceutical Science curriculum |
| Specialty Lead Editor | Sue Renn, Ruth Barnes |
Current priority areas
Stakeholder feedback
Feedback collecting through the Curriculum Library survey collected between January 2024 and November 2025. All stakeholder feedback is presented verbatim.
S-PS-R1 Introduction to Regulation and QA
- no feedback received
S-PS-R2 Introduction to Aseptics
- no feedback received
S-PS-R3 Introduction to Radiopharmacy
- no feedback received
S-PS-R4 Introduction to Production and Quality Control
- no feedback received
S-PS-S1 Aseptics
- no feedback received
S-PS-S2 Radiopharmacy
Training activities
- 1 – training activity type
- This is difficult for trainees to achieve as an entrustable training activity, I have two trainees that are based in Radiopharmacy and have struggled to provide sufficient evidence for this. They have performed elements involved in this for example preparation of radiopharmaceutical kits, performed quality control testing and been involved in the set up the day prior. However, they are not able to actually ‘run’ the preparation session as this involves being an in-process checker and at present the department requires in-process checkers to have registration.
- 2 – training activity task
- many radiopharmacies no longer perform cell labelling as this has been superseded by a different method so our trainees do this training activity in theory. if this TA is about compare and contrasting SOPs, I would change it to radiochemical purity SOPs which all radiopharmacies should do, and if not RCP testing methods are available in the SPC of all radiopharmaceuticals. Or even, compare and contrast a ‘cut and count’ method to using a radio-TLC scanner
- 3 – training activity task
- in my radiopharmacy, STPs would never be allowed to prepare therapy doses. the only therapy doses we prepare here are radiums, which are very expensive and patient-specific, so if anything went wrong with a dose the patient would miss their treatment for castration resistant metastatic prostate cancer. Instead we have STPs prepare ‘mock’ diagnostic doses (same process as preparing doses but no patients and much less activity making it safer), and then comment on how this compares to preparing therapy doses and why they’re unable to do that. it might be helpful to change this TA to make it more vague, e.g. prepare a real or mock patient dose
S-PS-S3 Production
Training activities
- 4
- training activity task- It is almost impossible to organise some of these training activities due to lack of facility and equipment. Not all trusts are able to provide trainees with the appropriate training especially these specifically ask for practical knowledge.
- training activity type- Entrustable training activity (ETA) are giving quite unrealistic standards for trainees as not all trusts have the capacity and availability for these training activities. This is also difficult as we rotate every 3 months, therefore, it is even harder to gain the confidence and knowledge to carry out these tasks unsupervised.
- training activity considerations- Change them into Developmental training activity (DTA) or Observational training activity (OTA) so we can write about them in theory as well
S-PS-S4 Quality Control
- no feedback received
S-PS-S5 Preparation for Practice
- no feedback received
Changes made
Module level changes
| Change ID | M1 |
| Module code | S-PS-S2 |
| Module content | Training Activity |
| Original | TA1 – Run a preparation session for a range of radiopharmaceuticals, from order to release, including kit preparation and quality control testing and prioritisation of work |
| Change | Run a preparation session (under the supervision of a qualified individual) for a range of radiopharmaceuticals, from order to release, including kit preparation and quality control testing and prioritisation of work. |
| Change category | Minor |
| Implementation cohort | 2026 |
| Change ID | M2 |
| Module code | S-PS-S2 |
| Module content | Training Activity |
| Original | TA-2 Compare and contrast cell labelling methods for red and white blood cells. Critique the SOPs. |
| Change | TA-2 Compare and contrast cell labelling methods for red and white blood cells. |
| Change category | Minor |
| Implementation cohort | 2026 |
| Change ID | M3 |
| Module code | S-PS-S2 |
| Module content | Training Activity |
| Original | TA3 – Prepare therapy doses |
| Change | TA3 – Prepare, or simulate the preparation of, a therapy dose. |
| Change category | Minor |
| Implementation cohort | 2026 |
| Change ID | M4 |
| Module code | S-PS-S3 |
| Module content | Training Activity |
| Original | TA4 – Perform the manufacture of at least two products of differing dosage form, including one non-sterile product |
| Change | Change to DTA |
| Change category | Minor |
| Implementation cohort | 2026 |
| Change ID | M5 |
| Module code | S-PS-S3 |
| Module content | Training Activity |
| Original | TA 7 – Distribute a product. Complete the required documentation and evaluate the recall process. Suggest improvements where appropriate |
| Change | Change to ETA |
| Change category | Minor |
| Implementation cohort | 2026 |
| Change ID | M6 |
| Module code | S-PS-R1 |
| Module content | DOPS |
| Original |
|
| Change |
|
| Change category | Minor |
| Implementation cohort | 2026 |
| Change ID | M7 |
| Module code | S-PS-R4 |
| Module content | Training Activity |
| Original | TA6 – Follow a product through manufacture and quality control to receipt by a customer and administration to a patient and reflect on the product journey |
| Change | Follow a product through manufacture and quality control to receipt by a customer and administration to a patient and reflect on the product journey.
Add to considerations -Where possible, follow the same product. If this is not possible, a different product can be observed at each stage. |
| Change category | Minor |
| Implementation cohort | 2026 |
| Change ID | M8 |
| Module code | S-PS-S1 |
| Module content | Training Activity |
| Original | TA5 – Run preparation sessions for a range of aseptic products, from order to release, including prioritisation of work |
| Change | Run preparation sessions (under the supervision of a qualified individual) for a range of aseptic products, from order to release, including prioritisation of work |
| Change category | Minor |
| Implementation cohort | 2026 |
| Change ID | M9 |
| Module code | S-PS-S2 |
| Module content | Training Activity |
| Original | TA4 – Respond to a radioactive contamination incident according to the local SOPs |
| Change | Respond to a radioactive contamination incident, or simulated incident, according to the local SOPs |
| Change category | Minor |
| Implementation cohort | 2026 |
| Change ID | M10 |
| Module code | S-PS-S2 |
| Module content | Training Activity |
| Original | TA8 – Take part in an inspection and develop an action plan to resolve any non-conformances |
| Change | Take part in an inspection, audit, or review and critique a report from a recently performed inspection or audit. Develop an action plan to resolve any non-conformances. |
| Change category | Minor |
| Implementation cohort | 2026 |
| Change ID | M11 |
| Module code | S-PS-S4 |
| Module content | Training Activity |
| Original | TA4 – Perform testing of the following types of pharmaceutical products to include HPLC or GC analysis:
|
| Change | Change to DTA |
| Change category | Minor |
| Implementation cohort | 2026 |
| Change ID | M12 |
| Module code | S-PS-S4 |
| Module content | Training Activity |
| Original | TA7 – Perform enumeration and identification of organisms on environmental monitoring samples |
| Change | Change to DTA |
| Change category | Minor |
| Implementation cohort | 2026 |
| Change ID | M13 |
| Module code | S-PS-S5 |
| Module content | Training Activity |
| Original | TA7 – Carry out supervision of personnel. Provide or assist in the delivery of ongoing refresher training on an aspect of the PQS and competency assessment of staff |
| Change | Change to DTA |
| Change category | Minor |
| Implementation cohort | 2026 |
| Change ID | M14 |
| Module code | S-PS-S5 |
| Module content | Training Activity |
| Original | TA6 – Review error reports and design and develop a GMP training session to mitigate an error trend identified. Assess the effectiveness of the training |
| Change | Change to ETA |
| Change category | Minor |
| Implementation cohort | 2026 |
| Change ID | M15 |
| Module code | S-PS-S1 |
| Module content | Clinical experience |
| Original | 6 – Meet with the clinical trails team to appreciate the processes and requirements for running a clinical trial. |
| Change | Meet with the clinical trials team to appreciate the processes and requirements for running a clinical trial. |
| Change category | Minor |
| Implementation cohort | 2026 |
| Change ID | M16 |
| Module code | S-PS-S2 |
| Module content | Work-based LO |
| Original | Demonstrate safe practice with sterile radiopharmaceuticals and blood products. |
| Change | Evaluate safe practice with sterile radiopharmaceuticals and blood products. |
| Change category | Minor |
| Implementation cohort | 2026 |
Programme level changes
- no changes made
Periodic review
This specialty curriculum requires significant change beyond the scope of an annual review.
Response – no
Rationale
Please provide an overview of the rationale for why the proposed changes are needed or why changes were not needed, with reference to stakeholder feedback.
Response
The feedback states this is not achievable as it requires the trainee to be a checker, but nowhere in the description of ETA does it require this.
S-PS-S2 TA2 – It is crucial trainees have exposure to cell labelling. RBC labelling is widely performed. WBC labelling is not so widely performed and so critique of the SOPs will be removed. Feedback refers to RCP testing. This is covered in other training activities.
S-PS-S2 TA3 – Feedback raises concern over ability to prepare so change to cover simulation.
I confirm I have reviewed the Reflective Practice Guidance for ETAs and DTAs and have made any changes necessary.
Specialty Lead Editor signature: Sue Renn
Date: no date provided
Change control - completed by the school
Programme structure
| Change ID | Programme structure maintained | Comments |
| M1 | Yes | |
| M2 | Yes | |
| M3 | Yes | |
| M4 | Yes | |
| M5 | Yes | |
| M6 | Yes | |
| M7 | Yes | |
| M8 | Yes | |
| M9 | Yes | |
| M10 | Yes | |
| M11 | Yes | |
| M12 | Yes | |
| M13 | Yes | |
| M14 | Yes | |
| M15 | Yes | |
| M16 | Yes |
Completed by: Chris Fisher
Date: 7 January 2026
Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) mapping
- Change to the learning outcome made in M16 does not change the mapping to the HCPC standards. Mapping to 13.06, undertake or arrange investigations as appropriate strengthened due to changes to the core curriculum. All HCPC SOPs met.
Completed by: Chris Fisher
Date: 7 January 2026